3 ways to stay social and save over the holidays

Over the holidays, our budget tends to get a little out of control. Between events, parties, food, and gifts, we can tend to spend more than we should. The holidays are a great time to be home and spend time with friends and family. If you want to be able to stay social without breaking the bank, here a few ways you can save.

Make it a potluck: If you’re looking to throw a big Christmas party, don’t feel responsible for making everything come together on your own. Instead of cooking all day or spending a small fortune on catering, make it a potluck and let everyone help compile the feast. This will save your wallet, and with a little bit of coordinating, you’ll be able to provide your guests with a pretty awesome spread.

Keep it cheap: There’s no reason to spend a fortune on gifts over the holidays. Sure, it’s fun to spoil the kids or grandkids a little bit, but when you really stop to think about it, the holiday season is really about much more important things, like the ones you love. Instead of dropping big money on gifts, spend a small amount on some cheap, thoughtful gifts. You can also set a spending limit and have a few laughs by having a White Elephant gift exchange.

Prioritize your shopping list: If you have a certain amount you’d like to spend on your Christmas party, stick to your budget. Make a list of everything you need for the party and then rearrange the list and order everything by importance. Find out how much each item is going to cost and then start cutting from the bottom until you meet your goal.